Chcą nas zmienić w reliefy i rzeźby...

Abstract

They Want to Change Us into Reliefs and Sculptures...<br>This article discusses a role of war memorials in popularizing militarism, war bravery and the idea of dying for the homeland. Following Krzysztof Varga (a writer) and Krzysztof Wodiczko (a visual artist), the monumental structures of national memory become here a subject of critical reflection. They both show the deadly hypnotizing power of memorials over people. To this end, they create an oneiric reality, in which the sacred objects of national tradition come to life and “vampirize” the would-be patriots. The task of the hypnotic and critical style of interpreting memorials is, as it is proved, “to demilitarize” (“disarm”) our culture.